There are several features available with the FF-800 autopatch that help make it one of the
most versatile and flexible patch interfaces available. The following list illustrates these
features:

The patch interface can support up to three phone lines (with external relays) and
provides four separate autopatch commands.

Custom hang-up code allows the user to enter a unique code along with the phone
number for disconnecting the autopatch.

Phone number read-back supress keeps the number dialed private.

250 speed call slots -- includes 10 emergency speed call slots.

Dial out prefix for connecting to PBX type systems.

Each patch annunciator message can be customized by the user to contain CW, FF-800
speech, DVR tracks, or any combination of these (see Text Edit for information on
programming messages).

Several of the autopatch commands have custom annunciators. These annunciators are
messages that the FF-800 sends to announce the particular command that has been
executed. All annunciators come with a factory default message which can be replaced by a
custom message if desired. Text Edit details how to create messages, and Message Assign
details how to assign messages to a particular annunciator (or annunciators). The
following autopatch functions/operations have programmable annunciators:

Autopatch Cancel

Autopatch

Secondary patch #1

Secondary Patch #2

Secondary Patch #3

Speed Call Bank 1

Speed Call Bank 2

Speed Call Bank 3

Speed Call Bank 4

Repeat Call

Secondary patch not available

Autopatch busy

The Message Assign function description also lists the defaults for each message.

There are several timers that affect the operation of the autopatch functions (see Timer Set
for details on setting timers). These timers are listed below:

Timer #9: Autopatch duration. This is the maximum duration of a normal Autopatch
or Speed Call. An alert beep will begin 15 seconds before the autopatch duration timer
times out to signal that the autopatch is about to de-activate.

Timer #11: Autopatch activity period -- If no valid COS is detected for this amount of
time, the autopatch will be automatically de-activated. A warning beep will begin 15
seconds before this time out (this beep is distinctively different from the beep that precedes
an autopatch duration timeout).

If the FF-800 is to be serviced by a local PBX system, it may be necessary to program the
"dial out" prefix. This is the digit or digits that the local PBX requires for access to an
outside line. Once the prefix is entered with the Dial Prefix Enter command, the dial prefix
must then be turned on using Dial Prefix Enable.

If the dial prefix feature is required, this function will allow the user to customize the prefix
to the requirements of the phone system that will be connected to the FF-800. The prefix
can contain up to 6 digits which includes any pause digits that are desired. The "*" digit is
the pause digit for the FF-800 system. The DTMF dial firmware will cause a 0.5 second
pause to occur each time it encounters a "*" digit.

The valid patch length sets the minimum number of digits that are required for an autopatch
command. If the number of digits for (number) is less than that set by this command, the
autopatch will not be executed.

This command allows the user to deactivate the patch options. If deactivated, the FF-800
will ignore any non-numeric characters that follow the phone number in an autopatch
command. The following describes the (patch#) parameter:

After the completion of an autopatch, the Autopatch Cancel command is used to disconnect
the FF-800 from the phone line. If a custom hang-up suffix was programmed, it will need
to be included with the hang-up code in order to enable the hang-up sequence. This
command restores the status of all ports configured as Remote Base (these ports are de-
activated by any autopatch or speed dial command).

This command is identical to the Autopatch Cancel command except that the custom hang-
up feature is bypassed. This command is intended to provide control operators with a
means of de-activating the autopatch even if the custom hang-up has been utilized.

This command is provided to allow users to initiate the re-dial function when patch options
are disabled. This allows a re-dial command prefix that is different than and separate from
the Autopatch prefix.

Since the FF-800 autopatch system generates the DTMF tones to dial the desired number,
this number must be included with the Autopatch command. Numbers must be at least
"patch minimum" in length (see Valid Patch Length), and the number is checked against the
LOCKIN/LOCKOUT tables before it is allowed as a valid
number. The busy conditions must be clear or the command will respond with the "Off
Line" message and abort. The (options) parameters are used to specify the re-dial function,
number read-back supress, and custom hang-up suffix. If the command passes all tests,
the FF-800 saves the status of all ports configured as Remote Base, and turns off all remote
base ports. The phone line relay is then activated and the FF-800 waits 1 second before
dialing the number. The actual DTMF signal is muted from the repeater audio and is
replaced by a single tone beep for each DTMF digit dialed. During the dialing sequence,
any DTMF digit will interrupt the dialing operation and abort the autopatch (if the custom
hang-up feature is specified, this interrupt is disabled). At this point the FF-800 is in
autopatch mode and the user will note that the phone audio is passed as repeater audio as
long as there are no valid COS signals into the system. If a valid COS is received, this port
is passed to the phone where it is heard at the calling end. Also, the courtesy tones are de-
activated while the autopatch mode is in effect.

The Secondary Patch commands basically duplicate the Autopatch command with three
exceptions: 1) the secondary commands can be disabled by the Secondary Patch Enable
command, 2) the Secondary Patch #2 and #3 commands each activate a user output when
executed, and 3) each Secondary command has its own annunciator message that can be
individually customized. These outputs can be used to drive a user supplied relay that can
switch the phone line to the FF-800 for multi-line access (or the output(s) can activate a
tape recorder, or do any other operation that the user desires). Secondary #2 activates
output #4 while Secondary #3 activates output #5. The Autopatch Cancel command de-
activates these outputs. It should be noted that the outputs are not affected by any patch
command if their corresponding secondary patch command is disabled (by Secondary
Patch Enable). The secondary patch commands obey the same (options) and syntax as the
Autopatch command.

As noted earlier, there are two timers that govern the autopatch -- the duration timer, and
the activity timer. If either times-out, the autopatch is automatically terminated. The
activity timer is reset by any valid COS, while the Autopatch Extend function must be used
to reset the duration timer.

The Autopatch Cancel command is used to terminate the autopatch mode and return the
system to normal operation.

The (options) parameter has many facets that allow access to several autopatch options. By
including the options in the Autopatch command, the user is freed from remembering and
entering several other commands to specify the different options desired for the autopatch.
Also, each user can determine which options they desire when they initiate the autopatch
(which could differ from call to call). This multi-faceted operation has been designed to
minimize complexity while maximizing the available features to the Autopatch
command.

There are three distinct options available -- the structure of the options syntax allows each
to be specified uniquely such that any or all of the three are available at any time. The "*"
digit is used as both a command character, and a separator character. The following
describes each component of the (options):

{*} ; {*} {custom hang-up} {*} ;

The first {*} is included for a re-dial command. Re-dial occurs when there is no telephone
number included with the autopatch and the {*} is entered to specify a re-dial
command.

The second and third {*} are separators for the custom hang-up suffix. up to 3 non-STAR
digits can be entered to specify the custom hang-up sequence.

The fourth {*} specifies the number read-back supress feature. If this character is present,
the FF-800 will not read back the entered phone number. This status is saved and the
number will not read back on a subsequent re-dial operation even if the read back supress
option is omitted on the re-dial command. In other words, once supressed, the number
will always be supressed on subsequent re-dial commands (the read back supress is reset at
the beginning of each new patch command).

These three options can be included or omitted as desired, as long as the order is preserved:
re-dial first, custom hang-up second, and read back supress third. The following examples
illustrate the autopatch commands introduced thus far:

Each patch command has a configuration option (see Patch Option Enable) that allows the
patch options to be selectively disabled. Thus, the main Autopatch command may have the
patch options enabled, but any or all of the Secondary Patch commands may have the
options disabled.

The speed call functions are not subject to the LOCKIN/LOCKOUT limits imposed on the main and secondary autopatch
commands. Thus, the user is free to program any number into any slot (provided that the
slot size is not exceeded).

All speed call slots are set from this command. If the phone number is omitted, then the
contents of the indicated slot are returned. A slot can contain any number of digits up to the
maximums indicated above. NOTE: the emergency speed call slots are located in bank 1,
slots 0 - 9.

This command performs a speed call function using the emergency speed call slots. Each
slot can have a unique annunciator programmed by the user to help identify the nature of
the service that is being accessed. The (options) are the same as for the normal or
secondary autopatch commands -- however, only the custom hang-up option has any real
meaning for speed call commands. The slot numbers reference the first 10 slots in bank 1
(numbers 0 through 9).

In addition to the individual annunciator messages, the emergency autopatch function sets
the autopatch duration timer from timer #12 instead of timer #9. This allows the user to set
a longer duration for emergency calls if desired.

Each bank in the speed call data base has a separate prefix. However, each behaves the
same, provides the same annunciator and timer settings. Since the bank number is implied
by the particular prefix, only the slot number is required when these commands are
executed.

There are two special commands that have been incorporated into the firmware of the FF-
800 to aid users in dealing with special phone interface situations. The Party Line
Autopatch is for use on controllers that are connected to what is commonly called a "party
line". This type of phone line is used extensively in rural areas and to a lesser extent in
more urban areas. The Party Line Autopatch is designed specifically to call an extension on
the same party-line to which the FF-800 is connected.

This command executes a specific sequence of events to call an extension on the same line.
It will only work with phone lines that behave in the following manner: When you dial the
phone number assigned to the phone that you are dialing from, there is a message from the
phone company instructing you to hang up. After you hang up, the phone (and others on
the party line), rings until someone picks up.

If this is how the phone system connected to the FF-800 behaves, then the Party Line
Autopatch can be used to ring the same line that the FF-800 is connected to. First, the
phone number of the FF-800 line must be placed in speed dial bank#1, slot#99. When
Party Line Autopatch is executed, it picks up the phone line, speaks the annunciator
message, and dials bank#1, slot#99. After a short delay, the FF-800 hangs up and waits a
few seconds for the phone to ring. If the ring is not detected within 6 seconds, the function
aborts and the FF-800 returns to normal operation. If the phone does ring, the FF-800 will
echo the ring signal to the repeater output until the FF-800 fails to detect a ring for 6
seconds. At this point, the FF-800 again picks up the phone line, and enters the autopatch
mode. This command can be canceled at any time with the Autopatch Cancel
command.

The Patch Busy Over-ride will bring the phone off-hook and dial any included number --
no lock-in or lock-out checks are performed on the number, and no length limits are
imposed. This command is intended for use in extreme cases where it is desired by the
control or system operator(s) to check a busy line for trouble or in the case of an
emergency, when there may be no other means for access to the phone line. The override
command causes the FF-800 to enter the autopatch mode and it is de-activated by the
Autopatch Cancel command.

The reverse autopatch command provides access to the controller via the telephone without
using the control autopatch access. After receiving the announce message from the FF-
800, the user enters this command followed by a delimiter (ie., "#*") and the controller will
respond with the function annunciator and begin to issue a ring tone on the repeater output
(if there is no active COS). Either the Autopatch or Secondary Patch#1 commands without
parameters will answer the reverse patch and cause the FF-800 to go into autopatch mode.
If the patch is not answered within the Reverse Wait timer (timer#17) the caller will be
disconnected without warning. Once this command is issued, the party on the telephone no
longer has access to the FF-800 to enter command codes.